Caves, Chateau anniversaries marked by pack train demonstration
From our weekly issue dated June 24, 2009
A pack train demonstration, showing how materiel was moved in the old days, was given at Oregon Caves National Monument. There also was a re-enactment of the discovery of the caves by Elijah Davidson. (Photo by Linda Corey-Woodward, for Illinois Valley News) -Click pic for more-
A bunch of loaded teenagers descended on Oregon Caves National Monument — four-legged teen-agers, that is.
Three horses and eight mules, with riders Betty & Dan Applebaker, and Diane Eek, re-enacted how food and building supplies were transported from towns in the valley up to the developments at the Oregon Caves attraction.
The group on Friday and Saturday, June 19 and 20, began its trek into the monument from Caves Creek Campground some 3 miles away and 2,000 feet lower in elevation. Following Caves Creek, the 1885 trail was one of the original paths used by hunters and miners.
Riding his 10-year-old draft horse cross, Pete, Dan Applebaker enjoyed the view from his big gelding leading the five-mule string. Betty Applebaker and her mount, a 16-year-old sorrel colored (red) mule named Henry, brought up the rear. Diane Eek followed with her three pack animals.
“Mules make wonderful riding and pack animals,” Betty stated, “as they’re very sure-footed on difficult trails; can carry and maneuver the sometimes awkward heavy packs on narrow switchbacks, and are quite bright.” She admits that they can exhibit an independent streak – occasionally at the worst times.
During the course of the packing demonstration, Betty and Dan introduced their pack mules: Zoey, a large Appaloosa-cross mule and the newest member of the Applebaker’s packstring. She joined Iris (a mustang cross), Arnie, Joe, and Cisco (three Quarter Horse crosses). Diane introduced Dillie (a draft horse cross mule), Gus the buckskin, and Lena the horse. Diane explained that Lena had to replace one of her mules who had problems and could not make the trip.
All the mules and horses have years of experience in rugged back country. Dan explained that each year they pack into some of the most beautiful parts of the Pacific Northwest. He added:
“We’ve packed into Hells Canyon, the Eagle Cap Wilderness, Three Sisters Wilderness, the Marble Mountain Wilderness, in addition to Gearhart and Warner Mountains Wilderness areas. This year, we’re going into the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana.”
Besides all their recreational adventures, the packstring is used for hunting trips in the fall, to which Dan and Betty look forward to.
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Betty conducted her packing demonstration while discussing the historical importance of pack strings; from early miners and hunters needing to carry their own provisions, to the U.S. Army’s first use of mules to haul supplies and artillery. She included the Civilian Conservation Corps employment of pack strings to assist in building facilities in remote areas like Oregon Caves National Monument.
“Some of the items we typically pack,” Betty said as she displayed the pack’s contents, “ include a camp tent, a wood cook stove, cross-cut saws, trail tools including Pulaskis and hazel-hoes, food and personal gear, and several containers of water.”
She continued pointing out the importance of balancing the weight of each side of the pack before it’s placed on the animal.
For this trip, she used soft packs because of the narrow trail. More commonly used packs are hard-sided rectangular boxes to keep equipment and supplies more protected. She showed how the coverlet, called a “top tarp,” is placed over a load to protect it from the elements, and explained how to secure the cover and the pack using the rope; and special knots called the box-hitch.
Youngsters especially were fascinated with the special harness used on mules. Betty explained the unique parts — from the breast-collar to keep a pack from sliding back on steep climbs, to the britching used to keep a pack from sliding over a mule’s head on steep descents.
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